About St. Stephen the Martyr · Omaha, Nebraska
St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in southwest Omaha, Nebraska, situated in the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Omaha. Founded as a parish on June 13, 1989 and with its church dedicated by Archbishop Daniel E. Sheehan on November 22, 1991, it has grown into the largest parish in Nebraska, serving over 3,000 families and more than 13,000 individuals. Its mission statement — 'a community for all to encounter Christ, know Christ, and proclaim Christ' — shapes a robust Catholic life that includes a parish school (preschool through 8th grade), a Religious Education program, active youth and adult ministries, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, and a large food pantry open to the wider community.
- Established
- 1989
- Patron
- St. Stephen the Martyr (the first Christian martyr, stoned to death in Jerusalem as recorded in Acts of the Apostles)
- Rector
- Fr. David (Dave) Belt
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Omaha
Why belong here
St. Stephen the Martyr offers a full Catholic life in southwest Omaha, with seven weekly Masses (including a Saturday vigil and four Sunday Masses, several live-streamed), a daily Mass schedule, Tuesday and Saturday confession, and a 24/7 Eucharistic Adoration Chapel accessible by door code. More than three thousand families form a parish large enough to host perpetual Adoration, an active OCIA process for adults and children, parish-school Religious Education, a middle-school youth ministry, Witness Wednesdays for high-schoolers, a Knights of Columbus council, a parish food pantry serving the wider community, and visits to the homebound — meaning newcomers can find a ministry that fits and a pastor (Fr. Dave Belt) who invites everyone to share their gifts.
Mass times at St. Stephen the Martyr
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:45 PM
- Or by appointment (call the parish office)
Adoration times
- Adoration Chapel available 24/7 via door access code 9675*
- Weekly Eucharistic Adoration Holy Hour — Mondays 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM in the Worship Space
- First Friday Adoration — 9:00 AM – 2:30 PM (9:00 AM – noon summer schedule)
- Holy Thursday — Adoration in the Daily Mass Chapel following the 7:00 PM Mass until midnight
About St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church
St. Stephen the Martyr is a Catholic parish of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Omaha, located at 16701 S Street in the southwest part of the city. Its mission — 'a community for all to encounter Christ, know Christ, and proclaim Christ' — is lived out across seven weekend Masses, daily Mass, year-round Adoration, parish-school and family faith formation, youth ministry, and outreach. With more than 3,000 registered families, it is the largest parish in Nebraska and offers a full and active Catholic life to families in the surrounding Millard and Gretna-area neighborhoods.
- Parish established June 13, 1989; church dedicated November 22, 1991
- Named for St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr (feast day December 26)
- Archdiocese of Omaha | 16701 S Street, Omaha, NE 68135
- 3,000+ families / 13,000+ individuals
History
The parish was formally established on June 13, 1989 with Fr. Gerald 'Gerry' Gonderinger as founding pastor. Within two and a half years the worship space was completed and dedicated by Archbishop Daniel E. Sheehan on November 22, 1991. In 1992, just one year after dedication, the parish founded St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic School — and Fr. Dave Belt was serving there as both associate pastor and the school's first music teacher. By 1996 the school had grown to K–8, and a major building addition added 19 classrooms, a computer lab, a library, and a full-size gym. By 2002 there were three classes per grade including preschool; in 2008 the school was named a National Blue Ribbon School.
- 1989: Parish established under founding pastor Fr. Gerry Gonderinger
- 1991: Church dedicated November 22 by Archbishop Daniel E. Sheehan
- 1992: School founded; Sr. Regina Wagner first principal
- 2008: National Blue Ribbon School award
Clergy, Staff & Leadership
St. Stephen the Martyr is served by a full pastoral team and a sizable lay staff spanning liturgy, faith formation, school, communications, operations, and finance. The priests are joined by four permanent deacons who assist at Mass and in ministry, and a Pastoral Council provides consultative support to the pastor. Newcomers are welcomed through a twice-yearly New Parishioner Dinner organized by Colleen Eusterwiemann.
- Pastor — Fr. David (Dave) Belt
- Associate Pastor — Fr. Matthew Pohlman
- Fr. Andy Sohm — Hospital & Care Facilities
- Deacons — Chuck Botdorf, Ernie Abbott, Scott Tylski, Denny Dethlefs
- Pastoral Care Coordinator — Colleen Eusterwiemann
- Director of Mission — Adam Ybarra
- Director of Religious Education — Sandy Kimmey; Assistant — Eileen Smith
- Music Director — Paula Bonkiewicz; Liturgy Coordinator — Sam Jizba
- School Principal — Julie Perrault; Assistant Principal — Greg Verraneault
- Director of Communications — Rachel Cooley; Digital Communications — Jia Manzitto
- Finance Director — Juli Han; Stewardship & Development — Carrie Ashley
- Director of Maintenance — Paul Manzitto
Sacraments
Information for all seven sacraments is published on the parish website at stephen.org/sacraments. Baptisms are celebrated on Sundays and require parents to attend a preparation class. Marriage preparation begins at least six months before the requested wedding date. First Holy Communion, Confirmation, and Reconciliation are received through the parish Religious Education program and OCIA process for children. Anointing of the Sick is coordinated through the associate pastor, and communion can be brought to the homebound by contacting the parish office.
- Baptism — Sundays; parent prep class required
- First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation — through Religious Education
- Matrimony — 6-month preparation; contact parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — contact Associate Pastor at (402) 896-9675 ext. 2
- Homebound Eucharist — contact the parish office
- OCIA for adults and for children ages 7–14
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish school of religion welcomes 550+ children each year in weekly, catechist-led classes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from August through May. Students are prepared for and receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation, participate in community gatherings and prayer services, and form peer friendships in the faith. Parents are invited to family activities to share in their child's spiritual journey. Catechists and assistant catechists are recruited each year — no theology degree is required, only a love for Jesus and a desire to share that love with children; all materials and lesson plans are provided.
- Religious Education K–8 (Tue & Wed evenings, Aug–May)
- Sacramental prep: Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation
- OCIA for Children ages 7–14 — Sundays 9:30–10:15 AM
- First Holy Communion preparation
- Confirmation Coordinator — Christie Hinton
St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic School
The parish school was established in 1992 with grades K–5, expanded to K–8 within four years, and added a 19-classroom expansion with computer lab, library, and state-of-the-art gym a few years later. By 2002 it offered three classes in every grade including preschool, and in 2008 earned the U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School award while earning full accreditation. Today the school educates about 727 students in preschool through 8th grade and consistently ranks among the top-five largest Catholic elementary schools in Nebraska, having graduated more than 2,000 students since opening.
- Preschool through 8th grade
- Founded 1992; first principal Sr. Regina Wagner; first music teacher Fr. Dave Belt
- National Blue Ribbon School (2008); fully accredited
- 727 students enrolled (2026 annual report)
- Top-five largest Catholic elementary school in Nebraska
- School phone (402) 896-0754 | school.stephen.org
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical preparation is led by Music Director Paula Bonkiewicz and Liturgy Coordinator Sam Jizba, with parish choirs supporting the weekend Masses and special liturgical celebrations including the Triduum. The Worship Space and Daily Mass Chapel provide ample room for parish-wide liturgies, and the Adoration Chapel extends the parish's worship life beyond scheduled Masses.
- Music Director — Paula Bonkiewicz
- Liturgy Coordinator — Sam Jizba
- Live-streaming of major Masses via Facebook and stephen.org
Youth & Young Adult Ministry
Adam Ybarra, Director of Mission, oversees youth and adult faith formation across the parish. Middle-schoolers are served through a dedicated Middle School Youth Ministry program under Brooke Keller, and high-schoolers (9th–12th grade) are invited to Witness Wednesdays — a weekly evening that combines powerful faith witnesses, Bible study, and time in front of the Blessed Sacrament, alternating between St. Wenceslaus and St. Stephen the Martyr. Confirmation preparation is coordinated by Christie Hinton.
- Middle School Youth Ministry — Brooke Keller
- Witness Wednesdays (9th–12th grade) — Wednesdays 8:00–9:30 PM
- Confirmation Coordinator — Christie Hinton
- Director of Mission — Adam Ybarra
Prayer & Devotional Life
Beyond the daily Mass schedule, the parish offers a rich devotional life centered on the Blessed Sacrament. The 24/7 Adoration Chapel (access code 9675*) is at the heart of parish prayer, supplemented by a Monday-evening Holy Hour, First Friday Adoration, and a Sisters of Faith women's group that gathers Monday nights for Adoration, Rosary, and fellowship. Other prayer groups include the Prayer Line (email/telephone requests), the Prayer Shawl Ministry, Rosary Making for OCIA candidates and those in hospitals, and the Seven Sisters Apostolate, in which seven women each take one day of the week to pray a holy hour for a parish priest.
- Sisters of Faith — Mondays 7:45–9:00 PM
- Adoration Committee / Weekly Adoration / First Friday Adoration
- Prayer Shawl Ministry — 2nd Wednesday, 9:15–11:00 AM
- Rosary Making for OCIA candidates, hospitals, mission trips
- Prayer Line — Beth Wetgen
- Seven Sisters Apostolate — Katie Keller
Outreach, Charity & Pastoral Care
Pastoral Care Coordinator Colleen Eusterwiemann leads the parish's outreach ministries, which include a Food Pantry open to parishioners and the wider Omaha community, senior-care visits to the homebound, a New Parishioner Outreach program with twice-yearly dinners, and visits to the hospital through Fr. Andy Sohm. The Knights of Columbus coordinate a First-Saturday Curbside Drop-Off for the Food Pantry, and donation carts are kept in the foyer of the Parish Center for ongoing support. The parish also welcomes volunteers for all of these efforts.
- Parish Food Pantry — coordinator Colleen Eusterwiemann
- Senior Care / homebound visits
- Hospital & Care Facilities — Fr. Andy Sohm
- New Parishioner Outreach — twice-yearly dinner
- Knights of Columbus — First Saturday Curbside Drop-Off
Parish Office, Communications & Stewardship
The Parish Office is open 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Monday through Friday, and the Stewardship & Development team works with parishioners on sharing time, talent, and treasure. The Communications team produces the weekly bulletin (deadline Monday 5:00 PM) and manages the parish website, Facebook page, and online giving.
- Parish Office Hours — 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM M–F
- Stewardship & Development Manager — Carrie Ashley
- Director of Communications — Rachel Cooley
- Digital Communications & Design — Jia Manzitto
- Bulletin submissions — [email protected] (deadline Mon 5 PM)
- Online giving — stephen.org/give
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Gerald 'Gerry' Gonderinger1989–founding pastor
Founding pastor; led the parish from establishment in 1989 through the dedication of the church on November 22, 1991 and opened St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic School in 1992.
- Fr. David (Dave) Beltcurrent
Returned to the parish as pastor after beginning his ministry there as the school's first music teacher and associate pastor.